Alderweireld states desire to join Liverpool

Ajax centre-back Toby Alderweireld is ready to snub interest from Newcastle United in favour of a move to Liverpool.

Toby Alderweireld has won 23 Belgium caps

Alderweireld has spent his entire career with Ajax, winning back-to-back Eredivisie titles, but is likely to become the latest Belgium international to make the move to the Premier League.

The 24-year-old will be available for a cut-price fee of around £8 million with his contract due to expire in the summer of 2014. He could leave Ajax with a hat-trick of league titles with the club three points clear of PSV Eindhoven and Vitesse Arnhem.

"I do not want to play in an English club in mid-table. Unlike Newcastle, Liverpool meets my criteria," the defender, who has also been linked with Everton and Manchester United, told the Belgian press.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has already signalled his intention to strengthen at the back with Jamie Carragher retiring, Martin Skrtel linked with a move away and Uruguay international Sebastian Coates struggling to make an impression at Anfield. Fellow Ajax star Christian Eriksen has also been linked with a move to the club.

He will follow the likes of Jan Vertonghen, Thomas Vermaelen, Eden Hazard, Kevin Mirallas, Romelu Lukaku and Christian Benteke in making recent moves to England. Fellow Belgium internationals Simon Mignolet, Vincent Kompany, Mousa Dembele and Marouane Fellaini also play in the Premier League with Thibaut Courtois and Kevin De Bruyne owned by Chelsea.